Posted - 09/20/2004 : 09:20:23 AM What line of work are knitters in outside of knitting? Are most of us scientific people, laywers, doctors, secretaries, etc.? Also, how do you think that might influence your knitting, i.e. process versus end product?

I majored in chemical engineering in college and am working as an environmental engineer (have been since about 6 - 8 months after getting my degree.

I use knitting as a creative outlet because let's face it, there's not a whole lot of creativity in engineering. I love to knit scarves and other small items. I have done one afghan and have started on another but haven't yet started on my first sweater. I guess you could say that I like seeing the finished product more than just knitting for the sake of knittin.

20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)

Jardinier

Posted - 02/10/2011 : 1:22:20 PM I am retired now but I was a dental assistant for 28 years.

~Priscilla~

Every skilled woman spun with her hands & brought what she had spun - blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. And all the women who were willing & had the skill spun goat hair.....Exodus 35:25 - 26

Panhandle Jane

Posted - 12/09/2010 : 4:06:03 PM Newly retired school teacher and newly retired from family hardware business as well.

Posted - 12/09/2010 : 3:59:44 PM I have a master in Art History, but I have been running my husband's surgical practice for the last 20 years. In December next year we plan to close the doors and retire, and I plan to knit full time. I too love to knit small items like baby stuff, socks, mittens etc., and it is so pleasing to see things finished and to give it always.

Kristina

kk

Sara Sue

Posted - 12/09/2010 : 08:51:51 AM I'm RETIRED! RETIRED! RETIRED! YEE-HAA!!!!! I was in retail and owned 2 businesses (at the same time) - a gift shop and a hardware store. They were next door to each other and we had a large opening between the 2 buildings. My husband and I worked together in both of them. We both loved working together and we raised our children in the businesses with us.

jlpanecki

Posted - 12/09/2010 : 06:31:55 AM I work at home on the computer for a private hotel firm. I take reservations, answer questions, and re-route calls. Since I must work hands-free, I am on a head-set for the phone.

This means my hands are free to knit when I am not actually typing or taking a call. A good day for me is when I can get lots of knitting done! I keep my project on a small chair next to my desk and work chair - knitting bag, yarn, pattern, and if it's a doll sweater, the intended doll as a try-on model. It's amazing how much I can get done in a few minutes here and there!

Posted - 05/23/2010 : 02:52:20 AM I looked at this topic for the first time today What an amazing diversity,isn't it wonderful to practice a craft,that knows no boundaries!just to stay on topic........I'm a retired physiotherapist!

morted

Posted - 12/02/2009 : 8:34:12 PM Very interesting to see what we do in our non-knitting lives. I'm a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and work in a large community hospital. It is a very rewarding and only somewhat of a creative job - it definitely keeps you on your toes. Knitting gives me a way to relax in the evening after work. It also occupies my hands and I enjoy the creative process and to have something tangible to show for my efforts! I so enjoy this community and the kindness of it's members. Everyone is just great. What a great support system for one's knitting, but more importantly for one another!

Diane

miggice

Posted - 11/29/2009 : 03:46:00 AM I'm a practicing architect in the Philippines, and I work for a Georgia-based green firm seeking to develop sustainable building construction here. I've always loved anything that involved thread or some kind of yarn (crochet, tatting, knitting with needles), but now I've taken up machine knitting and I love it.

zknit08

Posted - 07/18/2009 : 2:37:34 PM I'm a Nurse (RN) but has not worked as a nurse for 4 years now by my own choosing. I'm thinking seriously about retiring my RN license before this year is over. I want to get a Crochet and Knitting Certificate from CYCA or Crochet Certificate from CGOA so I can teach Crochet and or Knitting where I live.

zknit

noallatin

Posted - 05/02/2009 : 03:38:48 AM I'm in my third career. I am currently a high school English teacher teaching juniors and seniors. I am ready for this year to be over. Before teaching I spent 8 years in the IT department of a large credit union as a user support (mostly software, some hardware)representative and sometime computer operator. Before that I was enlisted for 10 1/2 years in the United States Navy. I I also worked in the IT field doing a little bit of lots of things.

kknit

Posted - 05/01/2009 : 2:43:06 PM I was a lawyer, and now I'm retired from that and training to be a teacher of the Alexander Technique. Being a lawyer for 25 years of constant stress, sleep deprivation and being chained to a computer ended up giving me chronic tension headaches, forcing me to take time off and ultimately to quit for the sake of my mental and physical health. The good parts of this story are (1) now I have much more time for knitting, spinning and the other activities I love, and (2) it led me to the Alexander Technique, a wonderful way to learn to move, sit and stand better and to get rid of unnecessary tension and compression. It's actually great for my knitting and spinning: no more aching shoulders and hands, and much more patience and control!

eldergirl

Posted - 02/26/2009 : 5:49:17 PM I was a professional dressmaker for thirty- five years. Ran my own business, had to move it twice, learned to be adaptable to slowdowns, and take advantage of seasonal rush situations. I loved the creative side, made my own patterns, designed a good deal for customers, and helped to start the National organization for sewing professionals: "The Association of Sewing and Design Professionals". It was a good innings. i had to retire because my hands became useless with erosive arthritis. Not happy about that, but I am over it and am knitting away happily, retired from my business.Anna

jtamsn

Posted - 02/25/2009 : 08:57:25 AM I may have answered in this thread before, but I'm a Registered Nurse in the Radiology Dept. of a large hospital. judy

dschmidt

Posted - 02/24/2009 : 4:35:44 PM 1st grade teacher

Donna in VA

The Honor Roll? It's easier here than in school. Scroll up to "Want to Make Betty Happy?" and be an Honor Roll member.

vviolet

Posted - 02/24/2009 : 11:09:53 AM I was a quasi-electric engineer at a large utility. I started my career there as one of the very first female gas construction workers. I ran a jackhammer and other pneumatic tools, dug ditches, repaired gas leaks, and ran gas lines in all kinds of weather, in all kinds of neighborhoods. It was very hard physical work, and I was terribly shy, but I managed. The hardest part was dealing with the nearly constant hassle from my crew members and the public. (No protection from sexual harrassment in those days.) I was in construction for five years, then managed to get into electric engineering, another male-dominated field, for the rest of my career. I retired from the company after a total of 30 years. It was a love-hate relationship, but I am grateful to have been able to retire with a decent pension and benefits. Ultimately, it was worth putting up with all of the BS. I learned a lot of practical stuff (tools, design, different plumbing techiniques, CADD, electric theory, electric distribution equipment and installation, etc.) I have a BA in English Literature, and two years of graduate study, with the original notion that I would teach. That idea obviously didn't pan out. Life sure is strange! Instead, I ended up with a secure job and was paid very well.

"I always try to do that what I cannot do in order to learn how to do it." -- Picasso

celticknitter

Posted - 02/24/2009 : 08:30:09 AM Looking through all your posts I feel so fortunate. I am a freelance designer and knitting teacher. I knit 24/7 and get paid for it so I guess Lucky.

miele

Posted - 07/21/2008 : 04:51:55 AM Another librarian here! I, too, had another career: I was in stock brokerage and regulation of that industry. I escaped and went to library school, and now work PT adult reference and reader's advisory in a public library. Ellen